A hypothetical account of the demise of the community college in the United States by the year 2000 is provided in this paper, along with suggestions for ways community colleges can avoid this fate. First, the reasons for the demise are presented, including the rise of vocational institutes, which took over the vocational education function of community colleges; major cutbacks in funding and the inability of the colleges to compete for funds; the inability of the colleges to adapt to emerging technologies; and the rise in the proportion of jobs not requiring higher education. Next, the strategies undertaken by some comprehensive community colleges to preserve their existence are highlighted, including a re-emphasis on the humanities, a focus on excellence and new and emerging technologies, an acknowledgement of financial limitations, and adaptation to employment changes. Finally, suggestions are provided for ways community colleges can avoid a premature demise, including: (1) rethinking what learning is, equating it less with memorization and more with thinking; (2) emphasizing sharing among institutions and developing a less parochial attitude toward campuses and equipment; and (3) implementing a new style and context for humanities education, looking to ways it can provide the most effective services to students. (HB)

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